Perfume dispenser



March 9, 1937. P. P. HEIN 2,073,061

PERFUME DISPENSER Filed Dec; 16, 1953 I09 8056 6569 3 IO, 9 {.5230 I02 103 I I" I s 12 1 H 7 L A flea INVENTOR PAUL RHElN Patented Mar. 9, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PERFUME DISPENSER Appiication December 16, 1933, Serial No. 702,748

11 Claims.

My invention relates to novel apparatus for and methods of dispensing fluids, and more particularly relates to novel apparatus for and methods of dispensing perfume.

Perfume, because it is highly volatile and therefore easily lost through vaporization, is merchandized in individual, relatively expensive containers having secure air-tight seals. This type of merchandizing makes the product extremely 1 expensive. To overcome this disadvantage, it has been the practice to retail perfume from bulk containers in units of ounces or grams, but the methods heretofore used have been clumsy and crude.

Accordingly, it is an object of my invention to provide novel apparatus for and methods of dispensing perfume.

In the methods heretofore used, the large container from which perfume is retailed has to be kept well sealed to prevent a loss of perfume through vaporization. When the perfume is being sold, this seal is removed and the proper quantity of perfume measured. This method of opening and closing the seal has made it impossible to maintain air-tight seals, with a result that there has been a substantial loss of perfume through vaporization.

Accordingly, a further object of my invention is to provide novel apparatus for and methods of dispensing perfume without affecting the seal during the intervals between sales.

A further object of my invention is to provide novel apparatus and methods of preventing loss of perfume through vaporization from a con- 5 tainer for bulk distribution of perfume.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a novel dispensing device which may be readily connected to any of the well known types of perfume containers for dispensing perfume therefrom.

In my application for liquid dispensers, Serial Number 670,393, filed May 11, 1933 of which this application is a continuation in part, Idisclosed one form of my perfume dispensing mechanism in which the perfume bulk container in inverted position is connected to the dispensing device in readiness for sale of the product.

I have discovered that I can effect an improved seal and otherwise prevent any contamination of the perfume by maintaining the perfume normally in an upright position and inverting it for purposes of dispensing.

Accordingly a further object of my invention is to provide novel apparatus for and methods of maintaining a bulk container of perfume connected to a novel dispensing device normally in an upright position and inverting it for dispensing purposes.

A further object of my invention is to provide novel means for suspending bulk containers of perfume.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a novel perfume dispensing device having a normal non-dispensing position and a dispensing position in which any desired measured quantity of perfume can be measured.

Still a further object of my invention is to provide novel means for suspending a novel perfume device.

There are other objects of my invention which together with the foregoing will appear in the detailed description which is to follow in connection with the drawing in which:

Figure l is a top plan view, partly. in section, of my novel perfume dispensing device in normal position, when not in use.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the perfume dispenser showing its frame structure.

Figure 3 is an end elevational view of the perfume dispenser with part of the frame work cut away to show a perfume bulk container in elevated dispensing position. I

Figure 4 is a vertical cross section at right angles to the plane of the paper through 44 of Figure 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 5 is a detail cross section through 5-5 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 6 is a side elevation of the bulk perfume container neck partly in section.

Figure 7 is a detailed view of the sleeve shown in Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a detail of the member for adapting my preferred dispenser to any form of container; and

Figure 9 is a detailed view of my preferred orifice of the dispensing valve.

Referring now to Figure 2, a main frame structure I I having triangular shaped end sections 12, shown in Figures 3 and 4, is supported on cushions l4 preferably made of a resilient material and secured as by screws l5 to the main frame structure.

Suitably supported on the vertical standards of frame II is a horizontal frame member l6, (Figure 1) from which extend the sleeves l1 and 13, carrying pins l9 and 20 respectively. These pins are secured at one end in the sleeves H and I8 by means of the set screws 22 shown in cross section in the left hand sleeve I! of Figure 1.

The units 23 to 26 which contain my preferred dispensing device, as will be described in more detail hereinafter, are pivotally mounted between pins |6, 3|, 32, 33 and 20. Pin IQ, for

5 example, one end of which is secured in sleeve protrudes at its other end into an indentation of the unit 23 which receives the pin. At the diametrically opposite end of unit 23 a similar indentation receives the pin 3|. Pin 3| is centrally supported on a horizontal member 35 which is secured to the horizontal frame l6, and has an arcuate end construction shown by the dotted line in Figure 4.

A set screw 36 locks the pin 3| in place. The

opposite end of pin 3| is in turn received in an indentation in the unit 24. Unit 24 like unit 23 is pivotally mounted between its pins 3| and 32, and as will now be obvious, a similar pivotai support is provided for units 25 and 26. Al-

though four such units are shown, it will be obvious that this is merely for purposes of illustration and in practice any number of units may be used.

Depending from each of the dispensing units 23 to 26 are individual bulk containers of perfume 4|, 42, 43 and 44 (Figure 2), the detail mounting of which will be described in the following in connection with Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8.

The dispensing unit 24 (Figure 5) comprises a cylindrically shaped valve 5| rotatably mounted in the outer cylindrical shell 52. A conical or funnel-shaped opening 53 cut in shell 52 has a diameter at its larger end equal to the diameter of the reservoir or measuring chamber 54 in valve 5|, and at its smaller end is of a diameter substantially equal to the orifice 55. The orifice 55 comprises two triangular-shaped members 50 and 60 elongated and narrow in order to provide a minimum surface tension area for the dropping perfume to prevent retaining of the final drops of the dispensed perfume.

One end 56 of the shell 52 is open and is provided with internal threads as at 5! for receiving a cap or cover 58 externally threaded at 59 for engaging the threads 51. A threaded bolt 6| screwed in fixed position in a central opening in cap 58 is locked in position at one end by the nut 62 and has an enlarged diameter at its opposite end 63. Spring member 64, one end of which is secured to the enlarged section 63 in a notch 65 and the other end of which is secured to the valve at 66, normally maintains the valve in the position shown in Figure 5, in which the reservoir or measuring chamber 54 is in operative relation with the upper end of an opening 1| at the lower end of the shell 52, or in the opposite position to that shown in Figure 5, as will appear in more detail hereinafter. Two pins 10 and 80 protruding from the valve 5| and shell 52 re- 0 spectively are arranged to engage each other for limiting the movement of the valve to its normal position, as will appear hereinafter. Similarly, pin '18 is adapted to engage pin 88 to limit the manually movable path of the valve,

5 or the reverse, as explained hereinafter.

The lower end of the opening H, of wider diameter than the upper end, is threaded at 12 and forms a shoulder at 75 in which is mounted a Washer 16. As will be described hereinafter,

this opening is adapted to receive any size perfume container.

A sleeve 8| (Figures 6 and '7) provided with outer threads 82 at its upper end, adapted to engage the inner threads 12, is also provided with inner threads 83 at its lower end, which engage the outer threads 84 of a member 85 (Figure 8). Member 85 is preferably of sector construction to enable it to fit a predetermined range of containers such as that shown at 86 having different diameter necks 81. In order to provide for a still wider range of containers, a variety of members 85 are provided, each having a different thickness of the walls, these members being selectively used in accordance with the diameter of the necks 81. .11

In actual practice, a washer 9| is first placed against the shoulder 92 formed in the sleeire' 8|.

Sectors 85 are then placed about the outer circumferential edge of the neck with the upper edge of the sectors 85 engaging the flanged rim 63. Sleeve 8| is then slipped over the neck and threaded into engagement with the sectors 85 through its internal threads 83 in engagement with its outer threads 84 until washer 9| securely engages the rim or flange 83. The lower circumferential edge 8| of sleeve 8| is then rimmed under the lower edge of sleeve 8| to further secure the connection. Sleeve BI is then threaded into the lower end of opening its threads 82 engaging the threads '12 until the upper edge of sleeve 8| firmly engages Washer 16.

It will be seen that in this condition a close seal is provided for the perfume in container 86, preventing the escape of perfume vapors either through the threads 83 by reason of the washer 9| or through the threads 12 by reason of the washer 16.

The valve having previously been assembled in a manner which should now be obvious by slipping the cap 58 over the screw 6| and screwing it securely in place through engaging threads 5! and 59 and locking the whole in place by means of the nut 62, which forces the cap 58 into engagement with shoulder 63, the perfume dispenser is now in condition for use.

Normally the container 86 depends from the ispenser unit 52 as shown in Figure 4. This is the condition assumed in the above description. In this condition the knurled knob 85 secured to the valve 5| faces a cross plate 96 (Figures 2 and 5) extending from end to end of the frame structure ll.

Plate 96, as shown in Figure 4, has portions thereof cut away as shown at I02 opposite each of the dispenser units, to enable the insertion of a card as shown in Figure 4, portions of the material being cut away for receiving the card. This card will ordinarily be used for identifying the perfume in the container adjacent thereto. A circular perforation l0l, large enough to permit the entrance of a finger, is centrally located in each sign compartment for forcing said sign out.

A lug member I03, preferably of a cushioning material secured along the lower inner edge of member 98, engages an edge of the container 86 for limiting its movements in a counterclockwise direction in Figure 4.

Normally the perfume container is in its vertical upright position and the reservoir opening registers with the neck opening H of the perfume container. The air vent is closed and accordingly the perfume adhering to the walls of the reservoir will not be lost by evaporation into the air.

When the dispenser is to be operated for measuring ofi a predetermined quantity of perfume from container 86, the operator standing behind the unit grasps the container 86 with his finger, rocking it and the dispenser device 23 clockwise about the pivot on pins I9 and 3| until the edge I of the dispensing unit engages the metallic projection 99 of member 98 and the container 86 is in the inverted position shown in Figure 3. The metal-to-metal contact thus provided prevents rebound.

In this position the knurled knob 95 faces the operator ready for use and the perfume flows by gravity into the reservoir 54 until it is filled.

The operator will now rotate the valve 24 by turning the knurled knob 25 against the action 5 orifice 55.

20 vides the necessary atmospheric pressure for releasing the perfume.

When reservoir 54 has been discharged of its contents, knob 95 is released and spring 64 returns the valve 24 to the receiving position where- 5 in the reservoir registers with the container again.

I have described my reservoir as normally held in position to receive perfume from the container 86 when the container has been moved to its inverted upright position. The knob 95 in this case 3 is then turned against the action of the spring to discharge the previously measured quantity of perfume. This arrangement has many advantages.

Among others, it normally maintains the meas- 5 uring chamber closed from contact with the outside atmosphere, thus preventing any loss of perfume by evaporization, after dispensing the same.

An alternative arrangement, and in many respects, preferred, is one in which the measuring 0 chamber or reservoir 54 is held in the reverse position from that shown in Figure 5; that is to say, in a position in which the open end of the reservoir is normally in engagement with the funnel 53. In this case, after the container has 5 been turned to its inverted position, the knob 95 must be turned against the action of spring 64 until the opening of the reservoir 54 is in engagement with the opening of the container 85, and the perfume will then flow into the measurin chamber 54. Upon the release of the knob 95,

the spring 64 will return it to its normal position in which the opening engages with the funnel 53 and the perfume will discharge to the receiving container.

, An advantage of this construction is that the purchaser can observe the perfume being measured when the knob 95 is turned against the action of the spring and a bubble is seen to rise in the container 86. The purchaser is also assured of receiving all of the measured perfume by reason of the fact that the reservoir normally is in operative relation with the funnel so that the operator obviously will not turn the knob 95 until all the perfume has been released. A further advantage of this construction is the better seal which is obtained.

A simple means for making the necessary changes so that the reservoir in its normal position is maintained in contact with the perfume 0 container in the position shown in Figure 5 is to reverse the position of the pin ll! with relation to the pins 88 and Normally the stop pin 80' limits the movement of the valve 24 to the position shown in Figure 5 in which it is in operative 5 relation with the perfume container 86. By removing pin 80' from engagement with pin 10, the latter pin and the reservoir are rotated through another 180 under the action of the spring until pin 80 engages pin 10. In this condition the normal position of the reservoir is just the reverse of that shown in Figure 5; that is, it is in position that it will not receive perfume immediately as soon as the perfume container has been rotated to its inverted vertical position. For discharging measured perfume, the valve is rotated against the action of the spring.

It should be clear from the foregoing description that the valve can be so adjusted through the spring 64 that upon turning the knob against the action of the spring, it is possible to fill the reservoir or to dispense the contents of the reservoir, depending upon the position of the pins relative to each other.

When the dispenser is not in use, the container is grasped by the operator and rocked about its pivot until it again depends in an upright position as shown in Figure 4.

It will be obvious from this description that with the container in a vertical upright position the perfume is normally kept out of contact with the metal of the valve 24, preventing any deleterious effects to the perfume that the metal may have. Moreover, perfume is always continuously and effectively sealed against vaporization into the atmosphere. In its upright position this seal is effected by the washers 9| and 15, and by the fact that no opening is provided into the atmosphere through the reservoir 54. This seal is, of course, maintained when the container is rocked in an inverted vert cal position, and also when the valve 24 is rotated until the reservoir 54 is in position to receive the perfume. and restored again for dispensing or discharging purposes.

Although for purposes of illustration I have described my invention in connection with a specific construction thereof. it will be obvious that this is merely for illustrating the principle thereof, and that it may be modified without departing from the spirit of my invention. Accordingly, I do not intend to be limited except as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a device for vending perfumes, a container for said perfume; a valve connected to said container, said container being normally in a vertical position to keep said perfume out of contact with said valve; means for rotating said container to an inverted vertical position for permitting perfume to flow through said valve; and means for continually maintaining said perfume in a perfect seal through said valve for preventing vaporization.

2. In a dispensing device for perfume, a container for the perfume normally in a vertical up right position; a valve for said container; means for rotating said container with respect to said valve to an inverted vertical position; means for rotating said valve to receive a predetermined quantity of said perfume; and means for continually maintaining said perfume in a perfect seal through said valve for preventing vaporization.

3. In a dispensing device for perfume; a con tainer for the perfume normally in a vertical upright position; a valve for said container; means for rotating said container with respect to said valve to an inverted vertical position, said valve having a normal discharging position; means for rotating said valve from said normal position to receive a predetermined quantity of said perfume; and automatic means for restoring said valve to its normal discharge position.

4. In a dispensing device for perfume; a container for the perfume normally in an upright vertical position; a valve for said container; means for rotating said container with respect to said valve to an inverted vertical position, said valve having a normal discharging position; means for rotating said valve from said normal position to receive a predetermined quantity of said perfume; automatic means for restoring said valve to its normal discharge position; and means for maintaining said perfume continually in a perfect seal against vaporization due to the atmosphere.

5. In a dispensing device for perfume; a container for said perfume; a valve dispensing device; and means comprising a splitthreaded connector for adapting said valve for any sized container.

6. In a device for vending perfumes; a container for said perfumes; a valve connected to said container, said container being normally in a vertical position to keep said perfume out of contact with said valve; means for rotating said container to an inverted vertical position for permitting perfume to flow through said valve, said valve having a normal discharge position and a normal measuring position for automatically restoring it to its discharge position.

'7. In a vending apparatus, a plurality of containers for perfume; a plurality of pins, said containers being pivotally mounted adjacent the pins, said containers being normally in an upright vertical position; a valve for each of said containers; means for individually rotating any one of said containers about said pins to an inverted vertical position, each of said valves having a normal discharging position; means for individually rotating said valves from said nor mal positions to receive a predetermined quantity of perfume from its individual container; automatic means for restoring said valves to their normal position; and means for maintaining said perfume continually in a perfect seal against vaporization.

8. In a vending apparatus, a plurality of containers for perfume, a plurality of pins, said pins being arranged to pivotally support a different container at each of their ends, said containers being pivotally mounted adjacent the pins, said containers being normally in an upright vertical position; a valve for each of said containers; means for individually rotating anyone of said containers about said pins to an inverted vertical position, each of said valves having a normal discharging position; means for individually rotating said valves from said normal positions to receive a predetermined quantity of perfume from its individual container; automatic means for restoring said valves to their normal position; and means for maintaining said perfume continually in a perfect seal against vaporization.

9. In combination; a perfume container; a dispensing unit removably secured to said container comprising a valve having a measuring reservoir; and a discharge orifice comprising a plurality of spaced nibs forming a guide of a minimum surface for the passage of perfume whereby surface tension is reduced to prevent loss of perfume.

10. In combination; a perfume container; a dispensing unit removably secured to said container comprising a valve having a measuring reservoir; and a discharge orifice comprising rigid spaced sections forming a passage of the perfume to prevent loss of perfume by surface tension.

11. In combination; a perfume container; a dispensing unit removably secured to said container comprising a valve having a measuring reservoir; means for removably securing the valve to the perfume container, said securing means also providing a seal against vaporization of the perfume into the air during operation; and a discharge orifice comprising rigid spaced sections forming a passage of the perfume to prevent loss of perfume by surface tension.

PAUL P. HEIN. 

